A Legendary Lady

Accommodating, patient, attentive and most importantly passionate about the restaurant industry – words to describe a legendary lady, Gloria Batiste, who was recently recognized by the Louisiana Restaurant Association as a LRA Restaurant Legend for her 40 years of service. The Restaurant Legends Program recognizes the long-term dedication of employees who make up the backbone of our industry.
For the majority of her career, Batiste made her living serving the members at the Alexandria Golf and Country Club, 36 years to be exact. An impressive anecdote, during her time there, she knew all 523 members by name. There, Batiste began as a waitress and worked her way up to supervisor of service.
Batiste’s former employer, Lou Richards, manager of Alexandria Golf and Country Club, described Batiste as “the most accommodating employee I’ve ever known in 40 years of work.”
This isn’t the first time Batiste has been recognized for her dedication to the industry. Back in 1998, she was nominated by the LRA and selected by the state Tourism Development Commission as Louisiana Restaurant Employee of the Year.
Current employer, Scott Laliberte of Hotel Bentley and The Diamond Grill, describes Batiste or “Glo” as, “truly one of the best in our industry! She greets our guests and fellow employees every day with a bright welcoming smile and has done so for over 30 years. Every day with Miss Gloria is a delight and I am extraordinarily thankful she is part of our team! I cannot think of anyone I have worked with that is more deserving of The Louisiana Restaurant Association Legends Award.”
Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 200 individuals in our state have been recognized by the LRA. Collectively, these industry professionals have more than 6,000 years of service to Louisiana restaurants and its suppliers.